[media-credit name=”RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post” align=”alignnone” width=”495″][/media-credit] If you’re hating on the mid-April snow, you’re basically hating on river rafting[2], fishing[3] and more. Above, rafters on a trip with Clear Creek Rafting Company make their way down Clear Creek in May of 2011.

If you’re on social media, you’ve surely seen the incessant complaining.

If you’ve somehow missed it, you’re lucky. But if that’s the case, we’re here with the Cliff’s Notes: “There’s snow! In Colorado! In April! Snow! Isn’t it spring? The sidewalks are icy! The streets are dangerous! OMG THERE’S SNOW!”

All that hyperbole is true — this snowstorm has rocked Denver, the mountains and beyond. But what’s hard to understand is all the surprise, not to mention all the negativity.

Negativity? It might inconvenience your commute, your schedule. But if you take it slow on the roads, allowing extra room and kindness to those around you, this snow is an enormous gift from the sky, and I do mean that literally.

Ski areas (Vail, Breckenridge and others) are extending their seasons. This goes doubly for all winter sports, be it cross-country skiing[4] in Washington Park tonight or snowshoeing in Eagle County over the weekend.

And think about what this means for summer sports, too. More snow means better conditions for river rafting, fishing, kayaking and beyond. Already rafters are making their early-season plans in hopes of catching the season’s best water. More snow doesn’t promise a better run-off, but it also doesn’t hurt — and the snow falling outside right now will likely lengthen the rafting season and make for improved fisheries.

In fact, this just in from Arkansas River Tours[5]: “Recent wet snows high in the Arkansas River drainage are bolstering the snowpack for the coming runoff. We are approaching normal conditions in our upper basin which means great whitewater is on the horizon!”

6 Comments To "If you love the Colorado outdoors (and even if you don’t), stop complaining about the snow"

#1 Comment By Karol Scott On April 17, 2013 @ 2:56 pm

Most natives and long timers in Colorado have seen snow all the way up into June. Heavy wet spring snows are the normal in Colorado. Usually very wet and don’t stay around too long–but bring in very much needed moisture. Welcome to spring time in the Rocky Mountains. Pray for a lot more of this. This state is in a severe drought and we need every ounce of moisture we can get.

#2 Comment By Alex Miller On April 17, 2013 @ 3:05 pm

We need the moisture, sure. Doesn’t mean it’s not a pain in the a**. I’m more of the mentality of “where the f*** was all this when I was wearing a t-shirt in February?!”

#3 Comment By mrfxx On April 17, 2013 @ 3:35 pm

For you newbies, historically, March is Colorado’s snowiest month, November is second and (shock) APRIL is third. There has been measurable snow somewhere in the state every month EXCEPT August! And if you can’t deal with more White Easters than White Christmases, feel free to relocate to a climate you like better.

#4 Comment By Avsolutely On April 17, 2013 @ 3:44 pm

Bring on the SNOW!

#5 Comment By Hybrid21 On April 17, 2013 @ 3:44 pm

I haven’t seen many negative comments about the snow. I think most people are smart enough to realize how dire our water situation is so they can deduce how desperately we need the water.

#6 Comment By Mike Magliocchetti On June 8, 2013 @ 5:30 am

What fuels the summer activities in Colorado is in direct correlation with the precipitation in the winter. Karol hit it on the head, welcome to ….

[10] looking for help in monitoring precipitation: http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_22895706/colorado-weather-program-seeks-volunteers-monitor-drought-climate

[11] “The snow season saved its best for last this year, boosting snowpack in the reservoir-rich Colorado River basin from a woeful 72 percent of average on Feb. 2 to a promising 93 percent Tuesday.”: http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_23038504/colorado-snowpack-rebounds-before-another-big-storm-wednesday